Alford

Willoughby is just 3 miles from Alford. It is the birthplace of Captain John Smith, one of the leaders of the Virginia colony in North America.

A window in St Helena’s Church commemorates his exploits. He went to school in Alford and later Louth, before leaving home at 15 to seek adventure. By 1606, when he joined a group sailing from England to establish a colony in Virginia, he was an experienced soldier. His skills weren’t entirely appreciated, and he arrived in the New World in irons – his helpful suggestions didn’t go down well in an age when deference was all. But life in Jamestown was tough with disease, starvation and Indian attacks. John Smith took over as president of the colony in 1608, enforced order, made everyone work and traded with the Indians for food. He was a good publicist and the colourful story of his rescue by Pocahontas, an Indian chief’s daughter, who married another settler Captain John Rolfe, is now folk history.